1. Our group will blog on pages 1-100 on april 5th.
2. On april 10th our group will blog on pages 100-200
3. Finally our group will comment on the last 74 pages on april 13.
6 Responses to “Reading Checkpoints”Leave a Reply |
Gifts
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April 7th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
After reading the first 6 chapters(up to page 93), I still find it difficult to comment on womens roles in this novel. Because this book is so entrenched in fantasy(similar to Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter), there aren’t really designated gender roles. It seems as though both men and women have unique gifts, and in order to preserve these gifts they must find someone equally powerful. It is odd that Orrec’s father is so adamant about his son marrying someone wiht the same gift, when he himself did not do so. The idea of aranged marrige frightens Orrec, because he is interested in Gry.
Thoughts?
April 10th, 2007 at 7:37 am
David,
What is the culture in the novel? What do you see as defined roles for characters, whether the roles are gender based or “gift” based? I am intrigued by the final comment in your post: arranged marraige frightens Orrec. Why? How committed must he be to arranged marraiges?
Mrs. P
April 10th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
I agree with David where it is hard to distinguish any certain roles that women have in this novel. Although, I believe that maybe their gifts have something to do with it because it seems to me like some of the women’s gifts accentuate their differences in gender. About the marriage topic. I believe that Orrec’s father has found out that marrying someone without the same gift has some kind of curse and he is just advising Orrec not to make the same mistake.
April 22nd, 2007 at 7:11 pm
I am sorry for missing our dates, but my computer situation and vacation made things very hectic. Mrs. P, in reference to the culture as the novel pans out it seems as though the role of woman in culture is very similar to the repetitive stereotype we see in much of today’s society. The “stay at home” mother is practically championed by the novel Gifts. Men go out and hunt while women(with the sole exception of Gry’s mother) stay home. Also, women are seen as “prizes” or objects of possesion in order to keep a lineage true, instead of them having worth being individuals.
-david
April 22nd, 2007 at 7:18 pm
The end of the novel I feel was slightly disappointing. Gry convinces Orrec that his gift can be used for more than destruction and evil.She believes that the gift can be used both ways. The cliche ending of “happily ever after” is somewhat unbelieveable after chapters of Orrec wallowing in self misery. To me, the ending comes abruptly as if any explanation will be awnsered in the sequel Vocies. I feel as though there needed to be more closure at the end of the novel.
-david
April 23rd, 2007 at 9:24 am
About halfway through the book I have seen a pattern. This pattern is that almost all of the gifts can be used to take over a large mass of people, or even the world. These powers can be very lethal towards others and the people from the Lowlands, who don’t have gifts, are very afraid of the people with powers in the Uplands. They have heard many stories of these powerful gifts and how they affect other’s lives and minds. The citizens of the Uplands could probably easily take over the world if they use their powers for the wrong reasons, which they do many times. Usually it is the men who are hostile and try to kill other things. The women are less hostile, but this may be because their gifts can’t really be used to kill people or animals.
-Matt